Under Sink Leak Protector Tray and Associated Method

ABSTRACT

A leak protector tray preferably includes a modular tray assembly suitably sized and shaped for being removably positioned within a sink cabinet. Such a modular tray assembly includes Notably, each tray has alternating tongue and groove edges that are interlocked together via a coupling to provide a secure and water-tight connection between adjacent trays. In this manner, the interlocking edges allow a user to adjustably link a plurality of trays to accommodate various sized and shaped sink cabinets, while ensuring moisture/water do not seep through the interlocked edges.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuance in part of application Ser. No. 13/234,046 that claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/383,104 filed Sep. 15, 2010.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

This invention relates to sink leakage protection device and, more particularly, to an under sink leak protector tray system for providing users with a convenient and effective means of protecting against spillage of liquid inside a cabinet.

2. Prior Art

Since the advent of modem indoor plumbing, the sink has become an indispensable feature of the home. Most homes today have a kitchen sink and at least one bathroom sink, if not many more. In most cases, the area under the sink has been turned into usable space with the pipes being installed inside a cabinet with storage space underneath. Typically, cleaning agents are stored under the sink for easy access and use. Unfortunately, because of the function of sinks the lower cabinets can become a place for water leaks that can go undetected for quite some time. Additionally, in a stored cabinet, spillage of liquid such as liquid cleaners may occur without the knowledge of a user thus causing unsightly stains and even damage inside the cabinet if left unattended for a long time.

Accordingly, a need remains for a device in order to overcome the above-noted shortcomings. The present disclosure satisfies such a need by providing an under sink leak protector tray system that is convenient and easy to use, lightweight yet durable in design, versatile in its applications, and designed for providing a user with a convenient and effective means of collecting spillage of liquid inside a cabinet.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing background, it is therefore an object of the present disclosure to provide an under sink leak protector tray system for collecting spillage of liquid inside a cabinet. These and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention are provided by an under sink leak protector tray system preferably including a modular tray assembly adapted to be removably positioned within an existing sink cabinet. Such a modular tray assembly preferably includes removably interlocked multiple trays wherein the trays include two adjacent receptacle edges and two typical adjacent edges whereas, the typical edges of one tray interlock with the receptacle edges of another respectively in such a manner that the first and second interlocking edges remain engaged to provide a water shield for the seam of each tray and thereby maintains that the trays contiguously abutted at a side-by-side relationship in two dimensional directions. Such a structural configuration provides the unexpected and unpredictable advantage of permitting a user to quickly interlock two or more trays in depth and/or width and thereby accommodate larger under sink cabinet areas.

In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the first and second edges may include tongue and groove edges slidably engaged to each other respectively.

In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the first and second trays may include first and second walls facing each other when the first and second edges are interlocked together respectively.

In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the first and second interlocking edges may be slidably engaged along a rectilinear longitudinal path intermediately located between conjoining first and second walls of the first and second trays respectively.

In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the first interlocking edge may be disposed subjacent to the second interlocking edge entirely along the rectilinear in a longitudinal path.

In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, each of the first and second interlocking edges may have a curvilinear cross-section.

In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, each of the first and second interlocking edges may have a rectilinear linear shape.

In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the lock cap may rest on top of the first and second interlocking edges respectively and thereby spans between the first and second trays.

The present disclosure may further include a method of utilizing an under sink leak protector tray system for collecting spillage of liquid inside a cabinet. Such a method preferably includes the chronological steps of: providing a removably modular tray assembly within an existing sink cabinet by performing the following chronological sub-steps. For example, providing an removably interlocking tray system wherein the trays may include first and second interlocking edges respectively in such a manner that the first and second interlocking edges remain engaged to each other thereby maintaining the trays contiguously abutted at a side-by-side, forward and backward, or checkerboard relationship.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

It is noted the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

The novel features believed to be characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first and second tray that is part of under sink protector tray system, in accordance with a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a high-level schematic block diagram showing the interrelationship between the interlocking edges of two separate trays.

FIG. 3 predicts tray (1) with its perspective overlapping edges (3) and (5) and conventional edges (8) and (10).

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the figures are not intended to be drawn to any particular scale; nor are the figures intended to illustrate every embodiment of the invention. The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments depicted in the figures or the shapes, relative sizes or proportions shown in the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiment set forth herein. Rather, this embodiment is provided so that this application will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the true scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the figures.

The illustrations of the embodiments described herein are intended to provide a general understanding of the structure of the various embodiments. The illustrations are not intended to serve as a complete description of all of the elements and features of apparatus and systems that utilize the structures or methods described herein. Many other embodiments may be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the disclosure. Other embodiments may be utilized and derived from the disclosure, such that structural and logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Additionally, the illustrations are merely representational and may not be drawn to scale. Certain proportions within the illustrations may be exaggerated, while other proportions may be minimized. Accordingly, the disclosure and the figures are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive.

One or more embodiments of the disclosure may be referred to herein, individually and/or collectively, by the term “present disclosure” merely for convenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope of this application to any particular invention or inventive concept. Moreover, although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it should be appreciated that any subsequent arrangement designed to achieve the same or similar purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all subsequent adaptations or variations of various embodiments. Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the description.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b) and is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or, limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, various features may be grouped together or described in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter may be directed to less than all of the features of any of the disclosed embodiments. Thus, the following claims are incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as defining separately claimed subject matter.

The below disclosed subject matter is to be considered illustrative, and not restrictive, and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications, enhancements; and other embodiments which fall within the true scope of the present disclosure. Thus, to the maximum extent allowed by law, the scope of the present disclosure is to be determined by the broadest permissible interpretation of the following claims and their equivalents, and shall not be restricted or limited by the foregoing detailed description.

Referring initially to FIGS. 1 an under sink leak protector tray system for collecting spillage of liquid inside a cabinet is disclosed as preferably includes a modular tray assembly consisting of two trays (1) and (2), adapted to be removably positioned within an existing sink cabinet. The under sink leak protector tray system FIG. 1 may be suitably sized and shaped for being removably positioned within a sink cabinet or the like. Such a modular tray assembly (1) and (2) preferably includes removably interlocked first and second or more trays. Wherein the first and second trays (1) and (2) may include first and second interlocking edges (3) and (4) respectively. The trays (1) and (2) each, additionally have two adjacent interlocking edges predicted in (5) (6) (7) and (8) plus a parallel edge (9) and (10) to receive additional trays side by side and or in a forward, backward or checkerboard fashion. The trays may be sized and shaped to preferably act as a water retention device and confine the liquid, thereby reducing the possibility of water damage to the interior of cabinetry and surrounding components.

In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the first interlocking edges may be disposed subjacent to the second interlocking edge entirely along the rectilinear longitudinal path. Such a structural configuration provides the unexpected and unpredictable advantage of preventing water leakage between trays.

FIG. 2 predicts two interlocking edges of trays (1) and (2) showing tray (1) overlapping tray (2) shielding the seam between trays from liquid intrusion.

FIG. 3 predicts tray (1) with its perspective overlapping edges (3) and (5) and conventional edges (8) and (10).

While the invention has been described with respect to a certain specific embodiment, it will be appreciated that many modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is intended, therefore, by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. In particular, with respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the present disclosure may include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation. 

What is claimed as new and what is desired to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:
 1. An under sink leak protector tray system for collecting spillage of liquid inside a cabinet, said under sink leak protector tray system comprising: a tray assembly adapted to be positioned within an existing sink cabinet, said tray assembly comprising an interlocking tray, said tray including a first and second adjacent receptacle edge and two typical adjacent edges positioned in such a manner that said receptacle edge over laps the typical edge of additional trays in a side by side, back and forth, or checkerboard fashion.
 2. The under-sink leak protector tray system of claim 1, wherein said first and second trays comprise: first and second walls facing each other when said first and second edges are interlocked together respectively.
 3. The under-sink leak protector tray system of claim 1, wherein said first and second interlocking edges are slidably engaged along a rectilinear longitudinal path intermediately located between conjoining first and second walls of said first and second trays respectively.
 4. The under-sink leak protector tray system of claim 4, wherein said first interlocking edge is disposed subjacent to said second interlocking edge entirely along said rectilinear longitudinal path.
 5. The under-sink leak protector tray system of claim 4, wherein each of said first and second interlocking edges has a curvilinear cross-section.
 6. The under-sink leak protector tray system of claim 1, wherein each of said first and second interlocking edges has a rectilinear linear shape. 